Cot102 insecticidal cotton

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to an insect resistant transgenic cotton plant, In particular, it relates to a specific event, designated COT102. The application also relates to polytucleotides which are characteristic of the COT102 event, plants comprising said polynucleotides, and methods of detecting the COT102 event. The COT 102 event exhibits a novel genotype comprising two expression cassettes. The first cassette comprises a suitable promoter for expression in plants operably linked to a gene that encodes a VIP3A insecticidal toxin, useful in controlling a vide spectrum of lepidopteran insect pests, and a suitable polyadenylation signal. The second cassette comprises a gene which, when expressed, can be used as a selectable marker.

This is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.10/530,234, filed Sep. 29, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference,which is a § 371 of PCT/EP20031/011725 ,filed Oct. 23, 2003, andpublished May 13, 2004 as WO 2004/039986. which claim priority ofGB0225129.6, filed Oct. 29, 2002.

The present, invention relates to genetic engineering of plants and inparticular to an insect resistant transgenic cotton plant. It alsorelates to methods of detecting material derived from the plant,

Plant pests are a major factor in the loss of the world's importantagricultural crops. About $8 billion is lost every year in the U.S. dueto infestations of plants by non-mammalian pests including insects. Inaddition to losses in field crops, insect pests are also a burden tovegetable and fruit growers, to producers of ornamental flowers, and tohome gardeners.

Insect pests are mainly controlled by intensive applications of chemicalpesticides, which are active through inhibition of insect growthprevention of insect feeding or reproduction, or cause death. Goodcontrol of insect pests can thus be reached, but these chemicals cansometimes also affect other, beneficial insects. Another problemresulting from the wide use of chemical pesticides is the appearance ofresistant insect varieties. This has been partially alleviated byvarious resistance management practices, but there is an increasing needfor alternative pest control agents, Biological pest control agents,such as Bacillus thuringiensis strains expressing pesticidal toxins likeδ-endotoxins, have also beer applied to crop plants with satisfactoryresults, offerings an alternative or compliment to chemical pesticides.The genes coding for some of these δ-endotoxins have been isolated andtheir expression in heterologous hosts has been shown to provide anothertool for the control of economically important insect pests. Inparticular the expression of insecticidal toxins such as Bacillusthuringiensis δ-endotoxins in trnasgenic plants, has provided efficientprotection against selected insect pests, and transgenic plantsexpressing such toxins have been commercialised, allowing farmers toreduce applications of chemical insect control agents.

Recently a new family of insecticidal proteins produced by Bacillus sp.during the vegetative stages or growth (vegetative insecticidal proteins(VIPs') has been identified. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,877,012, 6,107,279, add6,137,033 describe vip3A toxin genes isolated from Bacillus species. TheVIP3A toxins possess insecticidal activity aginst a wide spectrum oflepidopteran an insects including but not limited to fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda, black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon, sugarcane borer,Diatraea sacharalis, and lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpuslignosellus, and when expressed in transgenic plants, for examplecotton, confer protection on the plant from insect feeding damage.

The cotton in family, genus Gossypium, a member of the Malvacaea,consists of 39 species of which Gossypium hirsutum is the most commonlycultivated species. Three other species are also cultivated: G.arboreum, G. barbadense, and G. herbaceum. These cultivated species aregrown primarily for the seed hairs that ate made into textiles. Cottonis suitable as a textile fibre because the mature dry hairs twist insuch a way that fine strong threads can be spun from them. Otherproducts, such as cottonseed oil, cake, and cotton linters are byproducts of fibre production.

Damage to cotton crops by insect pests throughout the world results in asignificant yield loss each year. Effective control of these pests tominimise yield loss is of great economic importance. Examples of insectpests of cotton include Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), Boll weevil(Anthonomus grandis grandis), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), Cloudedplant bug (Neurocolpus nubilus), Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii), Cottonboll worm (Heliocoverpa zea), Cutworms (Feltia subterranea, Peridromasaucia, Agrotis ipsilon), European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), Fallarmyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Seedling thrips (Frankliniella spp.),Soybean looper (Pseudoplusia includens), Stink bugs (Nezara viridula,Acrosternum hilare, Euschistus servus), Tarnished plant bug (Lyguslineolaris), Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens) and Whiteflies(Trialeurodes abutilonea, Bemisia tabaci).

Transformation and regeneration of cotton plants now a well-establishedprocedure, typically based on Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediatedtransfer of foreign DNA into cotton plant parts and, regeneration ofsaid plant parts in tissue culture into fully fertile, transgenic cottonplants.

There exists a requirement to generate a cotton plant that is insectresistant so that yield loss through damage to cotton crops by insectpests is reduced. An insect resistant cotton plant could reduce the needto apply chemical pesticides which may be detrimental to other.beneficial insects and the environment.

Therefore the present invention relates to an insect resistanttransgenic cotton event, designated COT102. It also relates to methodsof detecting plant material derived therefrom. “COT102 event” in thecontext of this application refers to the original insecticidaltransgenic cotton plant described herein. “Insecticidal” as used hereinrefers to any inhibitory effect on an insect, including but not limitedto reduced feeding, retarded growth, reduced fecundity, paralysis ordeath. “Fecundity” comprises all aspects related to reproduction such asreproductive ability, reproductive frequency and number of offspring.Also embraced by this invention is any plant material derived from theCOT102 event, including seeds.

The COT102 event exhibits a novel genotype comprising two expressioncassettes. The first cassette comprises a suitable promoter forexpression in plants operably linked to a gene that encodes a VIP3Ainsecticidal toxin useful in controlling a wide spectrum of lepidopteraninsect pests, and a suitable polyadenylation signal. Suitable promotersmay be isolated from, inter alia, plants. Numerous plant promoters havebeen isolated and characterised including constitutive, switchableand/or tissue specific promoters. Suitable promoters may be selectedfrom the following, non-limiting group: CaMV35S, FMV35S, Ubiquitin,Act2, NOS, OCS, Cestrum yellow leaf curl virus promoter, Patatin, E9,alc/alcR switch, GST switch, RMS switch, oleosin, Gelvin, ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase small sub-unit, actin 7 MR7 promoter(maize), Gos 9 (rice), GOS2 promoters, NMasOcs (or super promoters) RolDpromoter (Agrobacterium rhizogenes), SuperMAS promoter and Suc2 promoter(Arabidopsis). In one embodiment of the present invention, the promoteris the Actin promoter, Act2, from. Arabidopsis. Additional elements suchas enhancer sequences may also be incorporated into the expressioncassette in order to boost levels of gene expression, for exampletranscriptional or translational enhancers, such as tobacco each virus(TEV) translation activator, CaMV35S enhancer, and FMV35S enhancer.Alternatively it may be desirable to include a targeting sequence, forexample, to direct transportation of the VIP3A toxin to a particularcellular compartment. For example if it is desired to provide theprotein outside of the cell then an extracellular targeting sequence maybe ligated to the polynucleoticde encoding the VIP protein. Otherexamples of targeting include targeting to a speccific intracellularorganelle or compartment, for example to the endoplasmic reticulum usinga ‘KDEL’ retention sequence, Numerous polyadenylation signals have beenisolated and characterised. Examples of suitable polyadenylation signalsfunctional in plants include that from the nopatine synthase gene (nos)of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, from the proteinase intibitor II gene andfrom the alpha-tubulin gene (EP-A 652,286). In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the polyadenylation signal is that from the nos geneof Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

According to the invention the polynucleotide encoding the VIP3 Aprotein may also be codon-optimised or otherwise altered to enhance forexample, transcription once it is incorporated into plant material, suchcodon optimisation may also be used to alter the predicted secondarystructure of the RNA transcript produced in any transformed cell, or todestroy cryptic RNA instability elements present in the unalteredtranscript, thereby increasing the stability and/or availability of thetranscript in the transformed cell (Abler and Green (1996) PlantMolecular Biology (32) pp, 63-78),

The second cassette comprises a gene which, when expressed, can be usedas a selectable marker. Numerous selectable markers have beencharacterised, including some that confer tolerance to antibiotics andothers that confer tolerance to herbicides. Examples of suitableselectable marker genes include those that confer toleranceto—hygromycin, kanamycin or gentanycin. Further suitable selectablemarkers include genes that confer resistance to herbicides such asglyphosate-based herbicides or resistance to toxins such as eutypine.Other forms of selection are also available such as hormone basedselection systems such, as the Multi Auto Transformation (MAT) system ofHiroyrasu Ebinuma et. al. (1997) PNAS Vol. 94 pp. 2117-2121 visualselection systems which use the known green fluorescence protein βglucoronidase and any other selection system such as mannose isomerase(Positech™), xylose isomerase and 2-deoxyglucose (2-DOG). In oneembodiment of the present invention, the selectable marker gene is onethat confers tolerance to hygromyycin. Further expression cassettes areoptionally comprised in the COT102 event. For example these may provideother desirable benefits such as herbicide resistance.

The first and second expression cassettes may be introduced into theplant on the same or different plasmids. If the first and secondexpression cassettes are present on the same plasmid and introduced intothe plant via an Agrabacterium-mediated transformation method. they maybe present within the same or different T-DNA regions. In one embodimentof the present invention, the first and second expression cassettes arepresent on the same T-DNA region.

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided apolynucleotide comprising at least 17 contiguous nucleotides from the26-nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. In one embodiment saidpolynucleotide comprises at least 18 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ IDNO: 1. In a further embodiment said polynucleotide comprises at least 20contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 1. In a still further embodimentsaid polynucleotide comprises at least 22 contiguous nucleotides fromSEQ ID NO: 1. In yet a further embodiment said polynucleotide comprisesat least 24 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 1. In a still furtherembodiment there is provided a polynucleotide comprising the sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 1.

In a further aspect if the invention there is provided a polynucleotidecomprising at least 17 contiguous nucleotides from the 26-nucleotidesequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment said polynucleotidecomprises at least 18 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 2. In afurther embodiment said polynucleotide comprises at least 20 contiguousnucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 2. In a still further embodiment saidpolynucleotide comprises at least 22 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ IDNO: 2. In yet a further embodiment said polynucleotide comprises atleast 24 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 2. In a still furtherembodiment there is provided a polynucleotide comprising the sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 2.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided apolynucleotide as described above comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7, In a still further aspect of the present invention there is provideda polynucleotide as described, above comprising the sequence of SEQ IDNO: 21.

In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a plantcomprising a polynucleotide which comprises at least 17 contiguousnucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2. In one embodiment saidplant comprises at least 18 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1and/or SEQ ID NO: 2. In a further embodiment said, plant comprises atleast contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2. In afurther embodiment said plant comprises at least 22- contiguousnucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2. In a still furtherembodiment said plant comprises at least 24 contiguous nucleotides ofSEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2. In yet a further embodiment said plantcomprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2. In a eitherembodiment still, said plant additionally comprises the sequence of SEQID NO: 7. In another embodiment said plant comprises the sequence of SEQID NO: 21. In one embodiment of the present invention said plant is acotton plant. In a further embodiment said plant is an insecticidalcotton plant which is the COT102 event, or a plant derived therefrom.

The skilled man is familiar with plant transformation methods. Inparticular, two principal techniques have been characterised across awide range of plant species; transformation by Agrobacterium andtransformation by direct DNA transfer.

Agrobacterium-medicated transformation is a commonly used method fortransformation of dicotyliedonous plants. The foreign DNA to beintroduced into the plant is cloned into a binary vector in between leftand right border consensus sequences. T his is the T-DNA region. Thebinary vector is transferred into an Agrobacterium cell, which issubsequently used to inject plant tissue. The T-DNA region of the vectorcomprising the foreign DNA is inserted into the plant genome. The markergene cassette and trait gene cassette may be present on the same T-DNAregion different T-DNA regions in the same vector or event differentT-DNA regions in different vectors. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the cassettes are present on the same T-DNA region.

Alternatively, direct DNA transfer can be used to introduce the DNAdirectly into a plant cell. One suitable method of direct transfer maybe bombardment of plant cells with a vector comprising the DNA forinsertion using a particle gun (particle-mediated biolistictransformation); another established method, ‘whiskers’, involvescoating the DNA onto silicon carbide fibres onto which cells areimpaled. Other methods for transferring plant cells include protoplasttransformation (optionally in the presence of polyethylene glycols); soindicator of plant tissues, cells or protoplasts in a medium comprisingthe polynucleotide or vector; micro-insertion of the polynucleotide orvector into plant material (optionally employing the known-siliconcarbide “whiskers” technique), electroporation nd the like.

Following transformation, transgenic plants must be regenerated from thetransformed plant tissue, and progeny possessing) the foreign DNAselected using an appropriate marker such as resistance to hygromycin.The skilled man is familiar with the composition of suitableregeneration media.

A plant of this aspect of the invention as described herein, has aninsecticidal effect on insects from one or more species from the groupcomprising Heliothis sp., Helicoverpa sp. and Spodoptera sp. which mayinfest it. “Infest” as used herein refers to attack, feeding or damagein any way by one or more insects. Thus, for example, the plant of thepresent invention will provide a self-defender mechanism againstinfestation by pest insects such as Helicoverpa zea (cotton boll worm).As a result, a reduced number of insecticide sprays are required duringthe cultivation of said plant compared to a non-transgenic cotton plantof the same variety and yield loss through insect pests is kept at aminimal level.

The present invention is not limited to the COT102 event itself, but isfurther extended to include any plant material derived therefrom,including seeds in so far as they contain at least one of the presentinventive polynucleotides. The present invention includes, but is notlimited to plants that are derived from a breading cross with the COT102event or a derivative therefrom by conventional breeding or othermethods. The invention also includes plant material derived from theCOT102 event that may comprise additional, modified or fewerpolynucleotide sequences compared to the COT102 event or exhibit otherphenotypic characteristics. For example it may be desirable to transformthe plant material derived from the COT102 event to generate a new eventthat possesses an additional trait, such as a second insect resistancegene. This process is known as gene stacking. The second insectresistance gene may encode, for example insecticidal lectins,insecticidal protease inhibitors and insecticidal proteins derived fromspecies of the Bacillus thuringiensis, Xenorhabdus nematophilus, orPhotorabdus liminescens. Preferably, the second insect resistance geneencodes a Cry gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which Crygene produces a toxin with a different mode of action or binding site inthe insect gut to VIP for the control of different insect species.

The present invention further provides plant material derived from theCOT102 event which possesses an additional trait such as herbicideresistance, nematode resistance or fungal resistance. In one embodiment,said additional trait is herbicide resistance. In a further embodiment,said herbicide resistance trait provides resistance to a herbicide whichcomprises glyphosate acid or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof.In a further embodiment still, said herbicide resistance trait isprovided by a gene encoding EPSP synthase or a mutant thereof.

The present invention further provides a method of controlling insectscomprising providing plant material derived from the COT102 event at alocus where said insects feed. The invention yet further provides amethod of controlling insects comprising providing plant materialderived from the COT102 event at a locus where said insects feed, andapplying other agrochemicals to said plant material such as herbicidesfungicides and other insecticidal compounds including other insecticidalproteins. Examples of possible insecticidal compounds includeinsecticidal lectins, insecticidal protease inhibitors and insecticidalproteins derived from species of the Bacillus thuringiensis, Xenorhabdusnematiphilus, or Photorabdus luminescens. Examples of possible chemicalsinclude pyrethroids, carbamates, imidacloprid, organochlorines, andmacromolecules such as spinosad, abamectin or emamectin.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of detecting plant material derived from the COT102transgenic event comprising obtaining a sample for analysis extracting,DNA from the sample providing, a pair of primers designed to bind to apolynucleotide comprising at least 17 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ IDNO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2; amplifying the region which lies between thesite at which the primers bind; and detecting the presence of theamplification product. Suitable pairs of primers for use in this methodof detection can be designed using parameters well known to thoseskilled in the art of molecular biology now that SEQ ID NOs 1 and 2 aremade available. For example, one or both primers of the pair may bedesigned to be vector-specific trait gene specific, promoter specific,specific to the sequence of the junction between the inserted DNA andthe genomic DNA, and/or marker specific. In one embodiment, the sequenceof said primers is depicted as SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the region amplified by saidmethod (the ‘amplicon’) is between 300 and 1000 base pairs in length. Ina further embodiment the amplicon is between 500 and 900 base pairs inlength. In a still further embodiment the amplicon is 800 base pairs inlength. In a further embodiment the amplicon is produced using the abovemethod in conjunction with the primers of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3and SEQ ID NO: 4, and is 800 base pairs in length. Alternative primerswhich may be used in combination to detect the COT102 event include SEQID NOs 18 and 19 which are specific for the COT102 event and produce a962 bp amplicon₉ SEQ ID NOs 22 and 23″) which are specific for the VIPgene arid produce a S5S6btp amplicon, or SEQ ID NOs 24 and 25 which arespecific for the genie conferencing; resistance to the antibiotichygromycin and produce a 367 bp amplicon.

There are many amplification methods that may be used in, accordancewith this aspect of the invention. The underlying principle a knowntechnique to those skilled in the art, is the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) The amplification product from a PCR reaction may be visualised bystaining with ethidoum bromide and excitation with UV light, typicallyafter size separation using, agarose gel electrophoresis.

An embodiment of the present invention employs variations of the PCRprinciple such as TaqMan™. This involves labelling at least one of theprimers involved in the amplification process with a fluorescent dye.When unbound, the prier a conformation such that no fluorescence can bedetected, However, when the primer is bound to apiece of DNA, theconformation changes and fluorescence can be detected. In this way, theamplification process can be monitored in real-time, the intensity offluorescence corresponding directly to the level of amplification.Further embodiments of the present invention include, but are notlimited to, RACE PCR.

A further embodiment of the present invention involves the use ofmultiplex PCR for distinguishing between homozygous COT 102 plantmaterial and heterozygous COT102 plant material. This is known to thoseskilled in the art as zygosity testing, and involves the use of threePCR primers which bind to specific parts of the cotton genome and/orinserted DNA. Suitable primers for use in such a zygosity test aredepicted as SEQ ID NOs 18 to 20.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method ofdetecting plant material derived from the COT102 event comprisingobtaining a sample for analysis; providing a probe designed to bind tothe complement of a polynucleotide which comprises at least 17contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO, 2 when saidpolynucleotide is single stranded; hybridisinig said probe with tiesample; and detecting whether the probe has hybridised. In oneembodiment said probe comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQID NO: 2. In an embodiment of the present invention there is provided amethod of detecting plant material derived from the COT102 event using aprobe selected from the group comprising SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6 andSEQ, ID NO: 7. In one embodiment, said probe comprises SEQ ID NO: 5. Ina further embodiment said probe consists of SEQ ID NO: 5. The probe maybe, for example, a PCR product or restriction digestion fragment. In afurther embodiment the probe as described herein may be tagged with afluorescent, radioactive, enzymatic or other suitable label to enablehybridisation to be detected. The skilled man will know how to designsuitable probes, now that he has the benefit of the present disclosure.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided amethod of hybridising a probe to the sample under stringent condition isand detecting whether the probe has hybridised. Stringent hybridisationconditions are well known to tie skilled man and comprise, for example:hybridisation at a temperature of about 65° C. in a solution containing6×SSC, 0.01% SDS and 0.25% skimmed milk powder, followed by rinsing atthe same temperature in a solution containing 0.2 ×SSC aid 0.1% SDS.

Suitable techniques for detecting plant material derived from the COT102event based on the hybridisation principle include, but are not limitedto Southern Blots, Northern Blots and in-situ hybridisation. The skilledman is familiar with techniques such as these. Typically, they involveincubating; a probe with a sample, washing, to remove unbound probe, anddetecting whether the probe has hybridised. Said detection method isdependent on the type of tag attached to the probe for example, aradioactively labelled probe can be detected by exposure to anddevelopment of x-ray film. Alternatively, an enzymatically labelledprobe may be detected by conversion of a substrate to effect a colourchange.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method ofdetecting plant material derived from the COT102 event comprising,obtaining a sample for analysis; providing an antibody designed to bindto a VIP protein contained within a plant comprising at least 17contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ID NO: 1 and or SEQ ID NO: 2 incubatingsaid antibody with the sampler and detecting whether the antibody hasbound. In one embodiment of the present invention said VIP proteincomprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8.

Suitable methods of detecting plant material derived from the COT1 02event based on said antibody binding include, but are not limited toWestern Blots, Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assays (ELISA) and SELDI massspectrometry. The skilled man is familiar with these immunologicaltechniques. Typical steps include incubating a sample with an antibodythat binds to the VIP protein, washing to remove unbound antibody, anddetecting whether the antibody has bound. Many such detection methodsare based on enzymatic reactions—for example the antibody, may be taggedwith an enzyme such as horse radish peroxidase, and on application of asuitable substrate a colour change detected. Suitable antibodies may bemonoclonal or polyclonal.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method ofdetecting plant material. derived from the COT102 event comprisingobtaining a sample for analysis; making a protein extract of the sample;providing a test strip designed to test the presence of a VIP proteinpresent within the sample; incubating the test strip with the sample;and detecting whether VIP protein is present. In one embodiment of thepresent invention said VIP protein comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO:8.

An alternative antibody-based detection method for COT102 uses ofdipsticks or test strips. Typical steps include incubating a test stripwith a, sample and observing the presence or absence of coloured handson the test strip. The coloured brands are indicative of the presence ofa protein in the sample. Such dipstick or test strip tests are proteinspecific, and may, be used for rapid testing of samples in the field.

In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a methodof detecting plant material derived from the COT102 event comprisingobtaining a sample for analysis; subjecting one or more insects of thespecies Spodoptera frugiperda (susceptible to VIP3A) to the sample;subjecting one or more insects of species Ostrinia mubilalis (notsusceptible to VIP3A) to the sample as a control; detecting, whether thesample has an insecticidal effect on insects from each species; andcomparing the results with an authentic COT102 bioassay profile. Theresults are compared against an authentic COT102 bioassay profile thatis produced using insects of the same condition which have beensubjected to the same dose and type of COT102 plant material and wherethe insecticidal effect is detected the same length of time aftersubjecting the insects to the COT102 sample. Spodoptera frugiperda is apositive control for COT102 as it is susceptible to a suitable dose ofVIP3A, while Ostrinia nubilalis is a negative control for COT102 as itis not susceptible to a suitable dose of VIP3A.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method of detecting plantmaterial derived from the COT 102 event includes but is not limited toleaf-feeding bioassays in which a leaf or other suitable plant part fromthe COT102 event or any plant material derived from the COT102 event, isinfested with one or more pest insects. Detection may be throughassessment of damage to the leaf or plant part after set time periods,assessment of mortality or another insecticidal effect on the insects.Alternative plant parts which may be used for such bioassays includebolls arid squares. Such bioassays may be carried out in the field, orglasshouse, and may be subject to natural or artificial insectinfestation.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit of partscomprising a means for detecting the presence in a sample of plantmaterial derived from the COT102 event. Preferably, said kit of partscomprises a means from detection the presence in a sample of apolynucleotide comprising at least 17 contiguous nucleotides from thesequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a protein encoded by apolynucleotide as described above, or a VIP protein. In an embodiment ofthe present invention, said kit of parts may comprise DNAamplification-detection technology such as PCR or TaqMan™. In a furtherembodiment of the present invention, said kit of parts may compriseprobe hybridization-detection technology such as Southern Blots,Northern Blots or in-situ Hybridisation. In another embodiment of thepresent invention said kit of parts may comprise antibodybinding-detection technology such as Western Blots, ELISA's, SELDI massspectrometry or test strips. In a further embodiment of the presentinvention, said kit of parts may comprise insect bioassay-detectiontechnology such as leaf feeding bioassays or mortality bioassays. In afurther embodiment of the present invention, said kit of parts maycomprise any contribution of the afore-mentioned detection technologies.In a still further embodiment said kit of parts may comprise in the formof instructions one or more of the methods described above.

EXAMPLES

The invention will be further apparent from the following non-limitingexamples in conjunction with the associated sequence listings asdescribed below:

SEQ ID NO 1: Polynucleotide sequence which extends across the junctionwhere the 5′ end of the COT102 insert is inserted into the cotton genomein event COT102.

SEQ ID NO 2: Polynucleotide sequence which extends across the junctionwhere the 3′ end of the COT102 insert is inserted into the cotton genomein event COT102.

SEQ ID NOs 3-4: Polynucleotide sequences suitable for use as primers inthe detection of the COT102 event.

SEQ ID NOs 5-7: Polynucleotide sequences suitable for use as probes inthe detection of the COT102 event,

SEQ ID NO 8: Amino acid sequence of the VIP3A toxin protein.

SEQ ID NOs 9-17: Polynucleotide sequences suitable for use as TaqManprimers in the detection of the COT102 event,

SEQ ID NOs 18-20: Polynucleotide sequences suitable for use as primersin the detection of the COT102 event via zygosity testing.

SEQ ID NO 21: Polynucleotide sequence characterising COT102, event.

SEQ ID Nos 22-25 Polynucleotide sequences suitable for use as primers inthe detection of the COT102 event,

Example 1 Cloning and Transformation

1.1 Vector Cloning

Standard gene cloning techniques of restriction digestion and ligationof fragments from in-house vectors were used to construct thetransformation vector, pNOVJ3001. The vector included a selectablemarker cassette comprising a Ubiquitin (UBQ3) promoter, the UBQ3 intron,a gene sequence which encodes a protein conferring resistance tohygromycin, and a nos polyadenylation sequence, The vector also includedthe expression cassette of the target gene, which cassette comprised anActin (Act2) promoter, the Act2 intron, a sequence encoding the VIP3Agene that had been codon optimised for expression in maize, and a nospolyadenylation sequence. The selectable marker cassette and VIP3 Acontaining cassette were cloned within the T-DNA region of vectorpNONV3001. between the left and right border sequences. The vector alsocomprised a gene conferring resistance to an antibiotic, spectinomycin,for prokaryotic selection.

The vector was transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101using standard Agrobacterium transformation techniques, and transformedcells selected through their resistance to spectinomycin.

1.2 Plant Transformation

The COT 102 event was produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformationof Gossypium hirsutum L. cv Coker 312.

Coker 312 seeds were surface sterilized for 30 seconds in 70% ethanolusing enough ethanol to cover the amount of seed to be sterilized. Theseeds were, washed with ethanol, rinsed in sterile water and soaked in a12% Clorox+Tween 20 solution for 20 minutes. This washing procedure wasperformed 3 times. Seeds were then placed onto germination medium(Stewart and Hsu, 1977) and allowed to germinate at 30° C. for7 -10days.

2 mi. cultures of Agrobacterium containing the pNOV3001 construct weregrown overnight in appropriate antibiotics and then diluted with MSNHmedium (19:1) in a sterile petri dish. Hypocotyls were cut into 6-8 mmlengths and placed in the diluted Agrobacterium solution for at least 30seconds. Hypocotyl explants were removed from the Agrobacterium solutionand blotted on sterile filter paper to remove excess bacteria.Hypocorils were placed onto T2 medium (MS salts, B5 vitamins, 0.1 mg/L2, 4-D0.5 mg/L kinetin, 30 g/L glucose, 2 g/L Phytagel—pH 5.8) andco-cultured with the Agrobacterium for 72 hours in the dark.

Hypocotyl explants were again blotted on sterile filter paper andtransferred to plates containing MS2NK medium (MS salts, B5 vitamins, 2mg/L NAA, 0.1 m/L kinetin, 30 g/L glucose, 2 g/L. Phytogel, 500 mg/Lcofotaxime, 10 mg/L hygromycin—pH 5.8) The plates were wrapped withparafilm and incubated in the light at 30° C. for several months untilcallus was formed.

Callus was broken up as small as possible and placed in a 50 mlErlenmeyer flask containing 10 ml of liquid MSNH medium (MS salts, 135vitamins, 30 g/L glucose—pH 5.8). The suspended callus was shaken at 110rpm in the light at 30° C. until small white slightly round cellclusters were visible. Cells ,were washed and plated onto solid MSNHmedium (MS salts, B5 vitamins 30 g/L glucose, 2 g/L Phytogel—pH 5.8).Plates were checked monthly for somataic embryo development.

Mature somatic embryos were picked from the plates and placed ontoplates containing SA medium (Stewart and Hsu salts, 20 g/L sucrose, 20g/L agar—pH 5.8). The plates of embryos were placed in the dark forapproximately 14 days. Roots were trimmed from the maturing embryos andthe embryos were transferred to SGA medium (Stewart and Hsu salts, 5 g/Lsucrose, 1.5 g/L Phytagel, 5 g/L agar—pH 6.8). After the first true leafemerged, young plants were moved to pint sized canning jars containingSGA medium. When the plants reached 7-10 cm in height the top was cutoff and transferred to another jar. On developing a good root system,the thus rooted cuttings were transplanted into pots and grown in thegreenhouse.

1.3 Identification and Selection of Transgenics

Putative transgenic plants were screened by PCR for the presence of theVIP3A gene. Positive events were identified and screened using insectbioassays for insecticidal activity against Fall Armyworm (Spodopterafrugiperda) (see Example 7). Insecticidal lines were characterized forcopy number by TaqMan™ analysis (see Example 2). T1 seed from 3 singlecopy & 2 double copy events were observed in a field trial for insectresistance and agronomic quality. Two events, COT101 COT102, were chosenbased on having a single copy of the transgene, good protein expressionas identified by ELISA (see Example 4), good insecticidal activityagainst Cotton Boll Worm (Helicoverpa zea) and field performance. At theend of the second year of field trials, results between the two eventswere compared and COT102 was progressed.

1.4 Verification of Sequence of COT 102

Genomic DNA was isolated from the COT102 event. This was used in thesequencing of the junctions of the DNA insertion site with the cottongenomic DNA in the COT102 event, using standard DNA sequencingtechniques.

Example 2 COT 102 Detection Via TaqMan™

DNA was extracted from leaf tissue using the Wizard™ Magnetic 96 DNAPlant System (Promega, #FF3760), according to the manufacturersinstructions, with an additional step at the beginning of the protocol:following grinding of the leaf material, 0.9 ml Cotton Extraction Buffer(0.2 M Tris pH 8.0, 50 mN EDTA, 0.25 M NaCl, 0.1% v/v 2-mercaptoethanol,2.5% w/v polyvinyl-pyrrolidone) was added to each well, the plant tissueresuspended and the plate centrifuged at 4,000 rpm (2755 g) for 10minutes. After aspirating and discarding the supernatant, 300 ul LysisBuffer A (Promega) was added and the manufacturers protocol was followedfrom this point. This procedure resulted in approximately 85 ul ofpurified genomic DNA at a concentration of approximately 10 ng/ul.

2.2 TaqMan PCR Reactions

TaqMan™ PCR reactions were setup using a standard reaction mixcomprising:

625 ul 2× Jumpstart Master Mix for Q-PCR (Sigma, #P2893), supplementedwith 15 mM MgCl₂ and 200 nM Strata-ROX

25 ul 50× FAM primer/probe mix

25 ul 50× TET primer/probe mix

200 ul Water.

50× primer/probe mixes comprise 45 ul of each primer at a concentrationof 1 mM, 50 ul of the probe at a concentration of 100 uM and 860 ul 1×TE, and were stored in an amber tube at 4° C. Examples of suitableprimer/probe sequence combinations which were used are: Primer NamePrimer Sequence 5′-3′ SEQ ID GhCHI2b-F GGTCCCTGGATACGGTGTCA SEQ ID NO: 9Forward TTGAGGGTTGGATCCTTTGC SEQ ID NO: 10 GhCHI2b-R ReverseCCAACATCATCAATGGTGGCATCGAAT SEQ ID NO: 11 GhCHI2b-TET Probe (5′ label= TET, 3′ label = TAMRA) Hygromycin-F CAGGCAGGTCTTGCAACGT SEQ ID NO: 12Forward CGAGAGCCTGACCTATTGCAT SEQ ID NO: 13 Hygromycin-R ReverseACACCCTGTGCACGGCGGG SEQ ID NO: 14 Hygromycin-FAM Probe (5′ label = TET,3′ label = TAMRA) Vip3-F ATGAAGACCCTGCGCTACGA SEQ ID NO: 15 ForwardVip3-R ACGCCCAGTGGCATGTAGA SEQ ID NO: 16 Reverse Vip3-AGCGAGGCCGAGTACCGCACC SEQ ID NO: 17 FAM Probe (5′ label = TET, 3′ label= TAMRA)

7 ul of master mix was dispensed into each well of a 384-well TaqMan™assay plate. 3 ul DNA template was added to the appropriate wells. 3 ulof copy control dilution series was added to specific wells as acontrol. The reactions were run in an ABI7900 (Applied Biosystems) usingthe following cycling conditions: Step Temperature Time 1 50° C. 2 min 295° C. 10 min 3 95° C. 15 sec 4 60° C. 1 min 5 Goto step 3, repeat 40times

Data was analysed using SDS2.0 software (Applied Biosystems).

Example 3 COT102 Detection via PCR

3.1 Genomic DNA Extraction

Genomic DNA from COT102 was extracted as described in Example 2.1.

3.2 Multiplex PCR Zygosity Test

PCR primers were designed to bind to cotton genomic DNA sequenceupstream of the site at which the COT102 cassette inserted (SEQ ID NO:18); the COT102 cassette sequence itself (SEQ ID NO: 19); and cottongenomic DNA sequence which is replaced when the COT102 sequence isinserted (SEQ ID NO: 20). When the COT102 insert is present, primerpairs SEQ ID NO: 18 and 19 amplify a PCR fragment of 962 bp in size. A50 ul PCR reaction as set up for each sample to be tested as follows: 1xJumpState Ready Mix REDTaq PCR (Sigma P-1107) 25 ul  40 pmole primer 1(SEQ ID NO: 18) 4 ul 40 pmole primer 2 (SEQ ID NO: 19) 4 ul 40 pmoleprimer 3 (SEQ ID NO: 20) 4 ul 40 ng genomic DNA 4 ul ddH2O 9 ul

The PCR reactions were heated in a thermocycler at 94° C. for 2 minutesfollowed by 35 cycles as follows: 94° C. for 30 seconds, 60° C. for 30seconds, 72° C. for 1 minute. The reaction was completed by heating , at72° C. for 5 minutes.

3.3 Analysis

PCR reactions were run on an agrarose gel, and DNA bands visualisedunder UV light after staining with ethidium bromide. The presence of 3bands indicated that the sample was a COT 102 homozygote plant; 2 bands(one of which being 962 bp in size) indicated that the sample was aCOT102 heterozygote plant; 2 bands (with no band of 962 bp in size)indicated that the sample was a homozygote wild type cotton plant.

3.4 Event Specific PCR

One PCR primer was designed to bind towards the 3′ end of the VIP3A gene(SEQ ID NO: 3), Another PCR primer was designed to bind to thecomplementary strand of the flanking genomic DNA sequence downstream ofthe 3′ end of the COT102 insertion site (SEQ ID NO: 4). These primerswere used together in a PCR reaction using COT102 genomic DNA resultingin the amplification of an 800 bp fragment. When the primers were usedin a PCR reaction using a Coker312 non-transformed cotton genomic DNAsampler no fragment was amplified.

In a second pair of primers, one primer was designed to band to thehygromycin gene (SEQ ID NO: 19) and the other primer was designed tobind to the flanking genomic DNA sequence upstream of the 5′ end of theCOT102 insertion site (SEQ ID NO: 18). These primers were used togetherin a PCR reaction using COT102 genomic DNA resulting in theamplification of a 962 bp fragment. When the primers were used in a PCRreaction using a Coker312 non-transformed cotton genomic DNA sample, nofragment was amplified.

Example 4 COT102 Detection Via Southern Blot

Approximately 5 to 10 grams of plant tissue was ground in liquidnitrogen using a mortar and pestle. The plant tissue was resuspended in12.5 ml extraction buffer A (0.2 M Tris pH 8.0, 50 mM EDTA, 0.25 M NaCl,0.1% v/v B-mercaptoethanol, 2.5% w/v Polyvinyl-pyrrolidone), andcentrifuged for 10 minutes at 4,000 rpm (2755 g) After discarding thesupernatant the pellet was resuspended in 2.5 ml Extraction Buffer B(0.2 M Tris pH 8.0, 50 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaCl, 1% v/v B-mercaptoethanol, ,2.5% Polyvinyl-pyrrolidone. 3% Sarkosyl, 20% Ethanol) and incubated at37° C. for 30 minutes. During incubation, the sample was mixed once witha sterile loop. After incubation an equal volume of chloroform/isoamylalcohol (24:1) was added, mixed gently by inversion, and centrifuged for20 minutes at 4,000 rpm. The acqueous layer was collected, and 0.54volume isopropanol added followed by centrifugation for 5- minutes at4000 rpm to precipitate the DNA. The supernatant was discarded and theDNA pellet resuspended in 500 ul TE. In order to degrade any RNApresent, the DNA was incubated at 37° C. for 30 minutes with 1 ul 30mg/ml R Nase A, centriguged for 5 minutes at 4,000 rpm and precipitatedby centrifugation at 14,000 rpm 10 minutes in the presence of 0.5 volume7.5 M ammonium acetate and 0.54 volume isopropanol. After discarding thesupernatant, the pellet was washed with 500 μl 70% ethanol and allowedto dry before resuspending in 100 ul TE.

4.2 Restriction Enzyme Digests

The DNA was quantified using, a spectrophotometer or fluorometer (using1×TNE and Hoechst dye). Suitable enzyme digests were prepared using 8 ugDNA pet digest in a total volume of 50 ul. Digests included BamHI,EcoRI, EcoRV, HindIII, Ncol, SacI, ScaI, SpeI and PstI, both alone andin combination. In particular, a BamHI and EcoRI double digest was usedto detect the intactness of the VIP3A gene; aBamHI and EcoRV doubledigest was used to detect VIP3A locus number and intactness of thehygromycin gene, and a BamHI single digest was used to detect VIP3Alocus number. Digests were incubated overnight at the appropriatetemperature for each enzyme. Samples were spun in a speed vacuum toreduce the volume to 30 ul.

4.3 Gel Electrophoresis

Bromophenol blue loading dye was added to each sample from 4.2 above,and each sample loaded on a 0.8%. TBE agaose gel containing ethidiumbromide. The gel was run at 60 volts overnight.

The gel was washed in 0.25 M HCl for 15 minutes to depurinate the DNA,and then washed with water. A Southern Blot was set up as follows: 20sheets of thick dry blotting paper was placed in a tray and 4 sheets ofthin dry blotting paper placed on top. One sheet of thin blotting paperwas pre-wet in 0.4 M NaOH and placed on top of the stack, followed by asheet of Hybond-N+ transfer membrane (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech,#RPN303B), also pro-wet in 0.4 NM NaOH. The gel was placed on topensuring that there were no air bubbles between the gel and themembrane. Three further sheets of pre-soaked blotting paper were placedon top of the gel and the butter tray filled with 0.4 M NaOH. Connectingthe gel stack within the buffer tray using a wick pre-soaked in 0.4 MNaOH started the transfer of DNA to the, membrane. DNA transfer tookplace for approximately 4 hours at room temperature. Following transfer,the Hybond membrane was rinsed in 2× SSC for 10 seconds and the DNAbound to the membrane via UV cross-linking.

A suitable DNA probe was prepared by PCR. 25 ng probe DNA in 45 μl TEwas boiled for 5 minutes, placed on ice for 7 minutes then transferredto a Rediprime II (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, #RPN1633) tube. Afteraddition of 5 ul P32-labelled dCTP to the Rediprime tube, the probe wasincubated at 37° C. for 5 minutes. The probe was purified bycentrifugation through a microspin G-50 column. (Amersham PharmaciaBiotech #27-5330-01) according to the manufacturers instructions toremove unincorporated dNTPs. The activity of the probe was measuredusing a scintillation counter.

The Hybond membrane was pre-hybridised by wetting with 20 ml pre-warmedChurch pre-hybridisation solution (500 mM NaPo₄, 1 mM EDTA, 7% SDS, 1%BSA) at 65° C. for 30 minutes. The labelled probe was boiled for 5minutes, and placed on ice for 10 minutes. An appropriate amount ofprobe (1 million counts per 1 ml pre-hybridisation buffer) was added tothe pre-hybridisation buffer and hybridisation occurred, at 65° C.overnight. The following day, the hybridisation buffer was discarded,and following a rinse with 20 ml Church Wash Solution 1 (40 mM NaPO₄, 1mM EDTA, 5% SDS, 0.5% BSA), the membrane washed in 150 ml Church WashSolution 1 at 65° C. for 20 minutes. This process was repeated twicewith Church Wash Solution 2 (40 mM NaPO4, 1 mM EDTA, 1% SDS) Themembrane was exposed to a phosphor screen or X-ray film to detect wherethe probe has bound.

Example 5 COT102 Detection via ELISA

Cotton tissue for analysis was harvested and frozen at −70° C. Freshtissue was ground to a fine powder and weighed into a labelledpolypropylene tube. Extraction buffer (100 mM Tris 100 mM Sodium Borate,5 mM MgCl, 0.05% Tween 20, 0.2% Sodium Ascorbate, Water, pH 7.8, 1 mMAEBSF, 0.001 mM Leupeptin) was added to the sample in a ratio of 2:1(volume extraction buffer: sample fresh weight) for fresh tissue or 30:1(volume extraction buffer sample dry weight) for lyophilised tissue. Thesample was vortexed and homogenised using a Brinkman PT 10/35 Polytronequipped with a PTA 10TS foam-reducing generator, until the mixturebecame liquefied. Extracts were centrifuged at 10,000×g for 15 minutes.The protein extract supernatant was stored at 2-8° C.

5.2 ELISA Protocol

The ELISA procedure used standard techniques as follows. A 96-well platewas soaked in ethanol for 2 hours, and air-dried. The plate was coatedwith, 50 ul goat anti-VIP3A antibody per well and incubated overnight at2-8° C. After washing three times with 1× ELISA wash solution (100 mMTris, 0.5% Tween-20, 75 mM NaCl, pH 8.5), the plate was dried briefly bytapping upside down on a paper towel 150 ul blocking solution 10 mMNaPO₄, 140 mM NaCl, 1% BSA, 0.02% Sodium Azide, titrated to pH 7.4 withmonobasic NaPi and dibasic NaPi) was added to each well followed byincubation at room temperature for 45 minutes. The plate was washed 3times as described above.

VIP3A standards and protein extract samples were applied to appropriatewells of the plate in triplicate, 50 ul total volume per well. The platewas incubated, at 2-8° C. for 1 hour 30 minutes, followed by roomtemperature for a further 30 minutes. The plate was washed three timeswith ELISA wash solution, and then incubated at 35-39° C. for 1 hourwith 50 ul rabbit anti-VIP3A antibody per well. The plate was washedthree times with ELISA wash solution, and incubated at room temperaturefor 30 minutes with 50 ul donkey anti-rabbit alkaline phosphatase perwell. Following a further three washes with ELISA wash solution 50 ulphlosphatase substrate solution was added per well and the plateincubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. The reaction was stoppedby addition of 50 ul 3M NaOH per well. The absorbance of the solution ineach well was measured at 405 nm using a Ceres 900 C multiwell platereader and the results analysed using KC3 Curve fitting software(Bio-Tek Instruments Inc,). The concentration of VIP3A in the sampleswas calculated by reference to the VIP3A protein standards.

Example 6 COT102 Detection Via DipStick

6.1 Protein Extraction

A piece of leaf tissue approximately 2 cm² was placed in a tubecontaining extraction buffer. A plastic stirrer was used to extractprotein from the tissue, by cutting, into and macerating the tissue.

6.2 Dipstick Test

A test strip was placed into the tube and incubated for 5-10 minutes forthe result to develop. The test strip comprised a first band at whichanti-VIP3A antibody was bound, and a second band at which a control,antibody was bound. After incubation, a double red line in the resultwindow of the test strip indicated that VIP3.A was present. The lowerline indicated the presence of VIP3A protein while the upper line was acontrol indicating that the assay was working, correctly.

Example 7 COT102 Detection Via Insect Bioassay

7.1 Leaf Bioassays

Leaf assays were performed on Fall Army Worm (Spodoptera frugiperda),Cotton Boll Worm (Helicoverpa zea) and Tobacco Budworm (Heliothisvirescens) as follows: Pads were soaked with 300 ul to 500 ul distilledwater and placed into Gelman dishes. Leaf pieces measuring betweenapproximately 0.5 square inches and 0.75 square inches were excised fromcotton plants 8 to 12 inches in height, and placed on the pads. Between8 and 10 insect larvae were placed in each dish and a lid fitted. Thedishes were incubated at 28° C. On the third and sixth days afterinfestation, damage to the leaf in each dish was scored and comparedwith the control plants.

7.2 Boll Bioassays

Four absorbent pads were saturated with water and placed inside a largeplastic cup. Three extra thick glass filters, each soaked with 100 uldistilled water, were placed in a smaller plastic cup, which was thenseated inside the larger cup. A 1.25 inch long boll was excised,immersed in 10 mg/ml to 20 mg/ml Nystatin and placed on the filters inthe small cup. 50 insect larvae were placed on the square or boll and alid attached to the larger cup. The squares or bolls were re-infestedwith 50 more larvae after 7 days.

The experiment was incubated at room temperature for approximately 3weeks. The bolls were then cut open to determine damage. Damage to theboll was compared to the control samples.

7.3 Lyphilised Leaf Bioassays

Bioassays using freeze-dried leaf tissue were performed on Heliothisvirescens as follows:

Terminal leaves were snap-frozen on dry-ice at time of picking andlyophilised overnight. The freeze dried tissue was ground in, a mortarand pestle to a fine powder and resuspended in 0.2% agar solution tomake an 8% (0.08 g/ml) suspension of leaf powder. The suspension wasoverlaid on top of artificial insect diet in 96-well plates and left todry. A single neonate insect larva was introduced into each well and theplates sealed. The plates were incubated at 28° C. On the sixth dayafter infestation, larval mortality was scored and compared with controlsamples. Results ,obtained were as follows: % leaf powder % larvalmortality variety suspension (mean of 5 tests) Coker 312 8 6.7 COT102 898.3

1. A method of detecting plant material derived from a COT-102 cottonevent comprising: (a) obtaining, a sample for analysis; (b) providingDNA from the sample; (c) providing a pair of primers comprising a firstprimer and a second primer designed to bind to a polynucleotidecomprising at least 20 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ IDNO: 2 when said polynucleotide is single stranded; (d) amplifying aregion which lies between sites at which the primers bind resulting inan amplicon; and (e) detecting, the presence of the resulting amplicon;whereby the presence of the amplicon is indicative that the sample isdeprived from the COT102 event.
 2. The method according to claim 2,wherein the first primer is destined to bind to a COT102 insertionsequence and the second primer is designed to bind to a flanking genomicDNA sequence downstream of the 3′ end of the COT102 insertion site or toa flanking genomic DNA sequence upstream of the 5′ end of the COT102insertion site.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the firstprimer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and the second primer has thesequence of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 4. The method according to claim 2, whereinthee first primer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and the secondprimer has the sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 18. 5. The method according toclaim 3, wherein the amplicon comprises SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:
 2. 6.A kit for detecting the presence of COT102 nucleic acids in a biologicalsample, the kit comprising at least one primer designed to bind to apolynucleotide comprising at least 20 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ IDNO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 when said polynucleotide is single stranded. 7.The kit according to claim 6, wherein the primer has the sequence of SEQID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4 SEQ ID NO: 18 or SEQ ID NO:
 19. 8. The kitaccording to claim 6, comprising a first primer and a second primerdesigned to bind to a polynucleotide comprising at least 20 contiguousnucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2 when said polynucleotide issingle stranded.
 9. The kit according to claim 8, wherein the firstprimer is designated to bind to a COT102 insertion sequence and thesecond primer is designed to bind to a flanking genomic DNA sequencedownstream of the 3′ end of the COT102 insertion site or to a flankinggenomic DNA sequence upstream of the 5′ end of the COT102 insertionsite.
 10. The kit according to claim 9, wherein the first primer has thesequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and the second primer has the sequence of SEQID NO:
 4. 11. The kit according to claim 9, wherein the first primer hasthe sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 and the second primer has the sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 18.